To get a Billie Eilish-style vocal in GarageBand or Logic Pro, record close to the mic, compress gently, keep the breath, and use very little reverb. Start with a high-pass filter near 80 Hz, a Compressor ratio of 3:1 to 4:1, a soft cut in the harsh "s" range, and a short, quiet reverb.
This sound is commonly described as close-mic, soft, breathy and intimate. We use that description as reference listening only. We do not know the artist's real settings or gear, so every value below is a starting point you adjust by ear. If you would rather load a finished chain, browse our GarageBand vocal presets.
Thir13een is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Billie Eilish or her team. "Billie Eilish-style" describes a sound we aim to approximate, nothing more.
What does a Billie Eilish-style vocal sound like?
Listeners often describe the sound as quiet and close, with the breath and small mouth noises left in. The voice sits near the front of the mix, yet it does not shout. Reverb is usually short and low, so the voice feels like it is right next to you.
Three ideas explain most of it. Keep the mic close and the performance soft. Control the level with light compression. Leave the air and breath in, while you tame sharp "s" sounds. Listen to a few reference tracks first, then match what you hear.
What are good starting settings for a soft, close vocal?
Use this table on a clean vocal recorded close to the mic. It uses only stock plugins, so it works in GarageBand and in Logic Pro. Change one setting at a time and judge it against the full track.
| Stage | Parameter | Starting value | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noise Gate (optional) | Threshold | Just above the room noise between phrases | Quiet vocals sit near the noise floor, so use it gently |
| EQ | High-pass filter | About 80 Hz | Removes rumble and mic handling noise |
| EQ | Low-mid cut | Cut 2 to 3 dB around 250 to 400 Hz | Clears boxy buildup from close-mic proximity |
| Compressor | Ratio | 3:1 to 4:1 | Steady level without squashing the soft detail |
| Compressor | Threshold | About 3 to 6 dB of gain reduction on loud phrases | Watch the gain reduction meter |
| Compressor | Attack / Release | Attack 10 to 30 ms, Release 80 to 150 ms | Keeps the start of each word, then recovers |
| EQ | Harsh "s" sounds | Narrow cut between 6 and 8 kHz, only if needed | Keeps breath audible without sharp sibilance |
| EQ | High boost | Boost 1 to 2 dB above about 10 kHz | Adds air; skip it if the take is already bright |
| Reverb | Amount and size | Small space, low level | Short ambience keeps the voice close |
| Echo | Amount | Very low, time synced to the tempo | Adds depth without pushing the voice back |
A thin voice may need no low-mid cut. A dark voice may need less high boost. The table is a map, not a destination.
How do I keep the breath without harsh "s" sounds?
Breath lives in the high frequencies, and so does sibilance. Boost air gently, then find the "s" problem and cut only that. Set a narrow cut between 6 and 8 kHz and sweep it until the sharp "s" eases. In Logic Pro you can also add the stock DeEsser 2 and reduce a few dB at the same range.
Do not compress hard to bring the breath up. Heavy compression lifts breaths and room noise together. Ride the track volume on the loudest words instead. A short fade on a loud breath works better than a harder ratio.
How do I get a close, dry feel with reverb and echo?
Close vocals use space sparingly. Pick a small room or plate-style setting, raise the amount until you can just feel it, then back off. Sync the Echo time to the project tempo and keep it very low, so repeats support the rhythm and stay out of the lyric.
If the voice sounds far away, the reverb is too loud or too long. Lower it before you touch anything else. Our GarageBand vocal settings guide explains each stock effect in more detail.
Stock plugins or a preset: which should I use?
The stock chain above is free and enough for a finished mix. A preset saves time, because the chain is already built and you tune it to your voice. We do not claim any preset reproduces a particular artist's voice. A preset is a starting chain, nothing more.
For a soft, close pop tone in GarageBand, two of our products fit the reference. The Ed Sheeran Vocal Preset for GarageBand ($10.00) is described on its page as a warm, intimate tone that uses the built-in GarageBand effects. The Justin Bieber Vocal Preset for GarageBand ($10.00) is described as warm pop with subtle pitch correction and an airy tone. Both are instant digital downloads for GarageBand on Mac and iPad. See every option in the GarageBand vocal presets collection.
Logic Pro user? You can download Toronto Warmth, our free preset for Logic Pro X. It is built for Logic Pro X, so it only helps if you also use Logic.
More vocal style guides
- How to get Drake-style vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand
- How to get The Weeknd-style vocals in Logic Pro and GarageBand
- GarageBand vocal settings: a stock plugin starting chain
FAQ
What DAW does Billie Eilish use?
We do not know her exact setup, and we will not guess. This page shows how to build a similar sound in GarageBand and Logic Pro.
Can I get a Billie Eilish-style vocal in GarageBand?
Yes. The stock EQ, Compressor, Echo and Reverb cover the whole chain in the table. Record close to the mic and keep the performance soft.
Is this made by or endorsed by Billie Eilish?
No. Thir13een is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Billie Eilish or her team.
What makes a vocal sound soft and close?
Mic distance, a quiet performance, light compression, a little air and very little reverb. Most of it comes from the recording, not the plugins.
Do I need Logic Pro, or does GarageBand work?
GarageBand works. Logic Pro adds extras such as DeEsser 2, but the starting chain above needs only stock tools in either app.
